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The Center for Regulatory Effectiveness (CRE) has been monitoring developments with Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning (CMSP). Because of the limited experience with CMSP, the CRE has prepared a White Paper evaluating the Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan to gain some insight on CMSP. In doing so, the CRE analyzes the results of the Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan and how those lessons can be applied to the National Ocean Council’s implementation of CMSP.

For years, ocean policy was the preserve of wonks. But President Barack Obama created the first national ocean policy, with a tiny White House staff, and with that set off some fierce election-year fights.

Conservative Republicans warn that the administration is determined to expand its regulatory reach and curb the extraction of valuable energy resources, while many Democrats, and their environmentalist allies, argue that the policy will keep the ocean healthy and reduce conflicts over its use.

The EU Commission recently released its report on the progress of the EU’s Integrated Maritime Policy. The report concluded:

The Integrated Maritime Policy was created to reaffirm the maritime dimension of European Union. It has grown from this vision into a tool delivering concrete benefits for maritime growth and sustainability in Europe. As shown in this Report, the strong contribution of maritime sectors to Europe’s economy and the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy is reinforced by coordinated action to lower costs, improve resource efficiency, reduce risks, support innovation and make better use of public money.